Dadaocheng (大稻埕) is undoubtedly one of Taipei’s most compelling neighborhoods and best places to explore on foot. While Wanhua, the historical Old City to the south, is a magnet for tourists, serious history, food & culture fans can’t miss Dadaocheng. Twatutia, as Dadaocheng is pronounced in the Hokkien (Taiwanese) language, was once the second largest …
A little known fact about Taiwan is that the world’s first cat café was opened in its capital, Taipei! Cats & Dog Café (now “Kitten Coffee Garden”) first opened in 1998. Their concept was simple: let customers be surrounded by fury felines while enjoying their sipping coffee or enjoying a light meal. It wasn’t until …
Taipei is a food lover’s paradise. The city’s legendary street foods and night markets tend to get all the attention in the media, but Taipei is also overflowing with amazing restaurants. One of the best things to do in Taipei is to discover new restaurants, which the city has thousands of. But they are often …
I’ll be covering a lot in this article, including varieties of Taiwanese tea, how to order tea from Taiwan, where to buy tea in Taipei and Taiwan, Taipei tea houses, how to brew Taiwanese tea, tea tours in Taipei, and tea-related attractions around Taiwan. Get a pencil and notepad ready! I’ve been living in Taiwan …
I will start this article by admitting that we didn’t choose Hokkaido specifically for our kids. It was my wife and I who wanted to go there. Badly. In the past, we had already taken our kids to Osaka to see cherry blossoms, to Tokyo (see our Tokyo itinerary) and Tashirojima Cat Island (on this …
Alishan is one of Taiwan’s most popular attractions, along with Sun Moon Lake and Taroko Gorge. It is famous for its sunrises over seas of clouds, cherry blossoms, misty forests, and high mountain teas. However, getting to Alishan, and getting around the park once you get there, IS COMPLICATED! So it’s something you should plan …
Hokkaido is one of those regions that people tend to visit on their 2nd or 3rd trip to Japan, after they’ve checked off the big-name destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Mt. Fuji. That was exactly the case for us, as this was our fourth trip to Japan. After spending a week taking our kids …
Tainan is the original capital city of Taiwan, before it was moved to Taipei. Today, it is known for its historical sights and night markets – it is even considered by many to be the country’s food capital. Tainan’s temples feature prominently on my list of things to do in Tainan. In fact, the city has …
When I first moved to Taiwan in 2008, the most recent edition of Lonely Planet Taiwan described Taichung as “hardly a must-see for the short-term visitor.” A lot has changed since then, and in recent years more and more travelers have been coming to Taiwan with Taichung in a top spot on their Taiwan itinerary! …
Orchid Island (Lanyu or 蘭嶼) is a small volcanic island located 64km off the southeast corner of Taiwan, directly east of Kenting. It is a volcanic island of breathtaking natural beauty and is home to the country’s most isolated aboriginal tribe, the Tao, who are famous for their annual Flying Fish Festival. Planning a trip …
